Mop holder



Dec. 14, 1943.

S. L. TOPLITZ MOP HOLDER Original Filed Feb. 17, 1942 INVENTORQ amson/[.YZpZzLZZ aiiorn 'ey.

Patented Dec. 14, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Divided and thisapplication December 22, 1942, Serial No. 469,827

Claims. (01. 15-153) This invention relates to mop holders, and moreparticularly to the type employed for holding so-called wet mops orswabs. This application is a division of my co-pending application,Serial No. 431,188, filed February 1'7, 1942, (abandoned May 5, 1943)One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an article ofthis character of strong, sturdy construction, yet of simple design,which will securely and effectively hold or grip a mop during themopping operation; which will permit the quick release of the mop whendesired; and in which the jaws of the device may, if desired, be stampedfrom relatively thin sheet metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mop holder with jaws andintegral stick-engaging ferrules of relatively thin sheet metalreinforced by rib formation, so that buckling or bending of the jawsunder clamping pressure is avoided in spite of the employment ofrelatively thin sheet metal for the jaws.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mop holder with jaws ofthe character described having integrally formed, channelled teeth, theteeth on one of the jaws lying in overlapped relation to those on theother jaw, whereby a firm grip on the mop is provided and shifting of itbetween the jaws is prevented.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an embodiment of the invention isshown,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mop holder constructed in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

In the drawing, the jaws of the mop, indicated respectively at 3| and32, are similar in shape. This enables the manufacture of the mop holderto be performed economically since only one set of stamping dies isrequired to produce the mop holder. The jaws are both secured to thestick 3 by the bolt 9 passing through apertures in the ferrule portions34 provided as integral extensions on each of the jaws. The aperturesthrough which the bolt passes are preferably square to engage asimilarly shaped part of the bolt and to prevent rotative movement ofthe bolt. By loosening or removal of the wing nut I0, adjustable on thebolt 9, one or the other of the jaws may be removed, or else loosenedsufilciently to permit the insertion of a mop. Since only one of thejaws need be loosened to permit the in,- sertion of the mop, the otherjaw may, if desired, be permanently fastened to the stick by a fasteningelement, such as a nail or pin passing through a hole provided in theferrule 34 and entering the stick 3.

Each of the jaws 3| and 32 is provided with a rear wall 35, and when thejaws are in clamping position, it will be noted that the rear walls ofthe two jaws have their lower edges 36 either meeting one another, orelse closely spaced from one another so that the rear end of the socketformed by the jaws is substantially closed and the mop head snuglyconfined therein. The ends 31 of the jaws consist of integrally formedbentover flanges gradually merging with end teeth 33 and extendingbetween said end teeth and the rear wall 35. This not only strengthensthe ends of the jaws, but forms a confining element that preventslateral shift of the mop within the jaws.

The jaws 3| and 32 ar preferably stamped from relatively thin sheetmetal, and, in fact, may be made of metal of approximately .032 inthickness, and are greatly stiffened or reinforced by the pressed outribs ll, l2 and I3. The rib II is centrally disposed and extends fromthe front end of the square bolt-hole to the front or forward edge ofthe jaw. The ribs l2 and I3 extend from the front end of the jaw at theopposite forward corners of the same, and extend rearwardly toward thebolt-hole and into the ferrule 34 and substantially parallel to oneanother on opposite sides of the bolt-hole. These parallel portions ofthe ribs are indicated at 43. This disposition of the parallel portions43 of the ribs l2 and I3 in close proximity to the bolthole serves toprovide bearing surfaces against which the bottom of wing nut Ill mayflatly operate. These ribs or ridges 43 afford a substantially largefrictional surface against which the nut may engage.

With a mop holder of this character there is a tendency for unreinforcedjaws to buckle and split in or near the area indicated at 50 in thedrawing, and known holders of this general character are required to bemade of relatively heavy sheet metal to prevent buckling at this point.By the angular disposition of the reinforcing ribs I2 and I3, and thecontinuation of these ribs well into the ferrule 34 and beyond thebolt-hole, the jaws are greatly stiffened through their normally weakestarea, namely, in and around the area 50. It will be observed thatadjacent to the area 50, the ribs ll, l2 and I3 are spaced closelytogether, and that the ribs 42 and I3 are located close to the edges ofthe jaws. This positioning of the several ribs within the narrower partof the jaw greatly strengthens the jaw, prevents buckling in this area,and enables a relatively thin sheet metal to be employed for the jaw.

Each of the jaws has its forward edge provided with a plurality ofintegrally formed, laterally bent, teeth, the teeth on the upper jawbeing designated at l5, while those on the lower jaw-are indicated atI4. Since the jaws are made from relatively thin sheet metal, it isdesirable that the teeth thereon be einforced or stiffened, and this isdone by transversely arching or channelling the teeth inwardly, asindicated at 40 in Fig. 3, the concave surface of each tooth facingoutwardly.

When the jaws are disposed in clamping relation, or as shown in Fig. 2,the teeth on the upper jaw overlap those on the lower jaw. In otherwords, the convex surfaces of. thev upper teeth are disposed in theconcavities of the lower teeth. This overlapping disposition of theteeth permits them to penetrate deeply into the mop and provide a gripthereon of exceptional firmness.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a sturdy,strong mop holder of relatively simple construction. The mop is placedin position in the socket-like holder provided for it, by simplyunthreading the wingnut sufliciently to enable the mop to be insertedbetween the jaws. The wing-nut is then tightened to cause the jaws tofirmly clamp the mop between them. The deep penetration of theoverlapping teeth into the mop causes a firm grip to be applied on themop, and lateral shifting of the mop within the jaws is prevented by theconfining flanges 31 at the ends of the mop.

'What I claim is:

1. In a mop holder, a pair of mop-engaging jaws formed from sheet metal,each of said jaws having its forward edge formed with a plurality ofmop-penetrating pointed teeth extending substantially at right angles tothe body of the jaw, each of said teeth being channelled longitudinallyfrom its base to its: point to stiffen the same, the teeth on one of thejaws overlapping those on the other jaw and being disposed in thechannels of the latter teeth when said jaws are in closed position.

2. In a mop holder, a pair of mop-engaging jaws formed from sheet metal,each of said jaws having its forward edge formed with a plurality ofmop-penetrating pointed teeth extending substantially at right angles tothe body of the jaw, each of said teeth being channelled longitudlnallyfrom its base to its point to stiifen the same, the teeth on one of thejaws overlapping those on the other jaw and being disposed in thechannels of the latter teeth when said jaws are in closed position, theconcave faces of all of the teeth facing outwardly.

3. In a mop holder, a mop-engaging jaw having a toothed front edge, saidjaw being provided'with a stick-embracing ferrule arcuate in crosssection formed integrally with the jaw, a narrowed neck portion disposedbetween the jaw and ferrule and formed integrally therewith, the jaw,neck portion and ferrule being reinforced by several angular raisedridges two of which extendfrom opposite ends of the jaw and through theneck portion and adding stiffness thereto and extending withoutinterruption into the ferrule, the ferrule being provided with abolt-receiving aperture located between said two ridges, said two ridgesextending substantially parallelon opposite sides of the aperture andsufllciently close thereto to provide spaced bearing surfaces for theclamping nut on a bolt extended through the aperture.

4. In a mop holder, a pair of co-operating mop-gripping jaws, each ofsaid jaws having its forward edge formed with a plurality of integralteeth, the jaw also having at its rear a vertically disposed rear walland having at the junction of its front wall and side edge an angulartooth having -a side wall portion disposed at the side edge of the jaw,said edge having a flange constituting a continuation of the side wallof the tooth and extending along the entire side edge of the jaw andwidening toward the rear wall and meeting and integrally mergingtherewith.

5. In a mop holder, a pair of co-operating jaws formed from sheet metaland of clamshell curvature, each of said jaws having its forward edgeformed with a plurality of integral teeth, each jaw having corner teethlocated at the junction of the front and ends of the jaw, the jaw alsohaving at its rear a vertically disposed rear wall and having a sideflange extending along each of its ends between one of the corner teethand the rear wall, one of the jaws having a bolt-receiving aperture,said jaw being provided with angular raised ribs extending between thecorner teeth and said aperture, said ribs being flared in areas locatedbetween the rear wall and the teeth.

' SAMSON L. TOPLITZ.

